Wrench



Patented Feb. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES DOUGLAS B. WESSON, on LONGMEADOW,MASSACHUSETTS:

WRENCH Application filed February 7, 1929. Serial No. 338,278.

' This invention relates to wrenches, and has for its main object theprovision of a set of wrenches adapted to interlock one with another sothat the effective leverage of any wrench may be increased at will. Afurther object of the invention is to provide a set of wrenches in whichthis desirable interlocking feature is attained by very simple means andwithout increasing greatly the cost of the several wrenches. Other andfurther objects will appear from the following description and claims.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a set of wrenches constructed inaccordance with my invention Fig. 2 shows the manner of increasing theleverage of a Wrench by the use of the next larger wrench of the series;V

Fig. 3 shows the manner of increasing the leverage of a wrench by theuse of the next smaller Wrench of the series; Fig. 4., as contrastedwith Fig. 3, shows the unloosening instead ofthe tightening of a nut;

2 Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 shows one manner of coupling certain wrenches together; and

Fig. 7 shows another manner of coupling certain wrenches together.

In Fig. 1, I have shown a set of Wrenches 1.0, 11, 12, 13 and 14, eachhaving nut-receiving openings 15 at its opposite ends. Each opening hasparallel, fiat surfaced, nut-grip ping walls 16 as is common in wrenchesof i this general tye. The outer edge surfaces of thewrench endsindicated at 17, may be rounded as is customary, except at portionsindicated at 18 which are flattened off (Fig. 5). These surfaces areformed at such an angle as to lie substantially parallel to the innersurface 16 of another wrench when the two wrenches are interlocked asshown in Fig. 2. Exact parallelism of the surfaces is not necessary,gripping action being obtamed even if the surfaces are only in line Themanner in which the wrenches interlock is shown in Fig. 2. In thisillustration, anut 21 is being tightened by the wrench l2,'the leverageof which is being increased by theuse of the wrench 13. One corner 20 ofthe wrench 13 is in line contact. with one of the inner surfaces 16 ofthe wrench 12, while the outer flattened surface 18 on the same jaw isin surfaceor line contact with the opposing inner surface 16. If thesurface 18 is exactly parallel to the surface 16 when the wrenches arein interlocked position, the shape of the end surface 19 of Wrench 12 isnot of particular importance; but if the sur faces depart fromparallelism so that the contact is through the corner 20 ofwrench 12,the end surface 19 ispreferably blunted off so that line contactresults. The employment of line contact for causing the interlocking ofthe wrenches gives adegree of stability to the interlocked wrenches muchgreater 5 to than would result were the surfaces rounded so that rockingcontact would result. In actual use of wrenches constructed inaccordancewith my invention, the leverage of each wrench can be extended byinterlocking it with another of the series without danger of thewrenches slipping apart.

While in Fig. 2 I have shown the leverage of the wrench 12 beingextended by the use of the next larger wrench of the series, it is also3 possible to employ the next smaller wrench 11, as shown in Fig. 3.Both of these figures show the use of a pair of wrenches for tighteninga nut. My improved wrenches are also adapted for use in unloosening thenut, as isshown in Fig. 4. This view shows an operation the reverse ofthat appearing in Fig. 3, using the same pair of wrenches. Figs. 6 and 7areviews showing additional combinations of the wrenches. "Q0

What I claim is:

1. A wrench designed for use in sets comprising jaws at each endpresenting a recess to receive a nut, the jaws terminating in straightlined corner portions adapted to engage one inner jaw surface of anotherWrench of the set, said jaws having flattened outer surfaces adapted toengage the opposite inner jaw surface of said other wrench. 2. A. wrenchdesigned for use in sets comprising jaws at each and presenting a reoessto receive a nut, said jaws having flattened outer surfaces adapted toengage one inlzler jaw surface of another wrench of the 3. A set ofdouble end wrenches having the jaws of each wrench conformed forengagement with another Wrench of the set so as to serve as a leverageincreasing extenm sion for said other wrench.

4. A set of double end Wrenches having the jaws of each wrench flattenedexternally for line engagement with the jaws of another wrench of theset so as to serve as a 15 leverage increasing extension for said otherwrench.

5. A set of double end Wrenches having the ends and sides of the jaws ofeach Wrench flattened soas to have line engagement respectively withopposite inner surfaces of the jaws of another Wrench of the set.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

DOUGLAS 13. WESSON.

